152 GIANT FISHES 



These are active fishes of the open seas, that approach the 

 inshore waters only during the summer, although immature 

 individuals may remain close to the land for most of the year. 

 They are found chiefly near the surface, and are often to be 

 seen leaping high above the water. The presence of small 

 fishes from the middle depths in their stomachs suggests that 

 the Yellow-finned Albacores sometimes descend to some 

 depth. The food includes such diverse creatures as fishes of 

 all kinds, squids, cuttlefishes, as well as several sorts of crus- 

 taceans. Dr. Beebe, who has made a special study of the food 

 of these fishes in Bermuda and the West Indies, mentions a 

 specimen, 6 feet in length, that had swallowed 58 fishes 

 averaging barely 2 inches in length. " Also it would be difficult 

 to choose a lot of fish," he adds, " less appetizing than these 

 puffers, triggers, turbots and guinards. They epitomize 

 spininess in respect to skin, opercles and fin elements, and 

 correlated with this supposedly protective armour the actual 

 flesh and muscle necessary for swift movement are much less 

 developed than in more ordinary fish. This choice must be 

 deliberate, when we consider the amazing speed of these 

 tunas, the ample size of their mouths and the abundance of 

 smooth-skinned, thick-fleshed fishes of all sizes." 



Practically nothing is known of the breeding habits of 

 these fishes, and the eggs and larval stages have not yet been 

 definitely recognized. 



The flesh is firm, beautifully pinkish in colour, and of 

 excellent flavour. In Japan and Hawaii it is mostly consumed 

 fresh, in Ceylon it is employed in making the product known 

 as " Maldive Fish ", and in California, although parts of the 

 catches are sold in the markets, the bulk is used for canning. 

 The fish are caught by means of nets of various kinds, as well 

 as by hooks baited with live fish, squid or other dainties. A 

 favourite method of capture is by trolling with feather or 

 bone " jigs ". 



In California anglers are said to find this an attractive 

 sporting fish, and troll for it with " a flying-fish held aloft by a 

 kite as bait ". 



